You do know that EG was cut the other day, or do you pay close attention to the Houston Chronicle, the Chronicle website, ESPN, ESPN.com, any local Houston station, radio or television, FOX Sports, any newspaper that carries the AP wire or (and this is a shocker) this same forum that you have posted 90% of your entire total in over a year? And disregarding the fact that his contract runs out in 2 years, you don't think that maybe, just maybe, he will sign an extension before then?
Yao is not as passive as he looks. He knows the things around him. If he think this team has no chance to win big, why sign a extension? Especially knowing other teams will line up to beg for his service. I think Yao personally like Houston organization and also like SF, but he has his responsibility to Reebok and other sponsors. BTW, how many shoes T-mac has helped sold by being a Magic?
You do see the difference between turning down a contract and fulfilling one you have already signed, right? Nike is in a free market. NBA teams and players are not in a free market...they are both obligated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The new collective bargaining agreement allows the team to make a qualifying offer after the 4th season. Elton Brand got a contract from the Heat I think, but the Clippers matched the offer. He stayed with the Clippers. However, I would keep in mind that no team should sign a player who does not want to play for the team. Yao will have to assess the situation after the 4th season to determine if the Rockets is the best team for him. Are the Rockets fun to play for? Are the Rockets winning?
Gater: With Yao, Cuban will probably win a championship by next summer. Orlando and LA offered same amount of money to Shaq. For some reasons, Shaq left Orlando. Someone said it's because of the state tax difference and some said it's Penny.... If Yao insists to leave (I don't want to it to happen), he can play the 5th year under qualifying offer and leave at 2007, like Kandi did.
Lanqui1, I'm not going to sit here and bash you. All I'll say is that I sincerely believe that Yao is loyal in everything he does. It's the Chinese way, or at least the way he does things. He remained very loyal to his Chinese national team, and I see him staying loyal to the Rockets as well. I think he is now finally starting to feel comfortable here in America, and with the Rockets, as well as the media here in Houston. If he goes to the Knicks or Warriors (which I believe would be the only 2 front runners he would be interested in if he decided to look at his options) the media scrutiny would be overwhelming once again for him. He hates all that attention. Keep in mind he is only a 2nd year player, and not even in his mid 20's. He still has a lot of to learn and a long way to go. The Rockets know his potential and his impact on everything from sales to media attention. Fans in Houston would never let Les Alexander forget about this if he lets Yao walk. If you think Houston fans hate Bud Adams, wait until you see the response if Yao does leave. It just won't happen. It can't. Yao will be a Rocket until the Rockets choose to not renew his contract. And I just don't see that happening with Les Alexander as owner.
LOOK! In Jordan's first three years, the Bulls were 108-138. They didn't have a winning record until his fourth year, in which the team won 50 games. This is not the same situation because yao does have a good team around him, which is still revolving around Francis. So far (and so EARLY in this season), this team is greatfully underachieving. That's not even arguable with anyone on this board. Some are getting so emotionally attached to this team (which I think is excellent) that they take sides and call for trades of everyone. Will there be a trade? Probably a minor one involving everyone's favorite John Lucas/Bow Wow look alike. It seems liek you're freaking out that Yao won't even consider this team at all. Have the Rockets and the city of Houston treating Yao like a pooh-pooh platter? NO! You must think Carroll Dawson and Les Alexander are absolute dumb****s if you think Yao will be gone in 3 years. The only reason Alexander holds on to this team is Yao. He will trade EVERYONE before Yao. It doesn't matter how he does this year, Yao sells so much Rockets crap to an entire country it's sickening. The jerseys and the wretched logo are OBVIOUSLY marketed towards China, regardless how silly they look to Americans or actual Chinese people who probably think it's a pathetic attempt at making an American basketball team Asian. I have no idea where you are getting these ideas, and I'm not going to call you stupid or anything, but honestly, you seem to be the only one in this place who thinks Yao will turn a 180 on this franchise.
Woah, I know business is business, but what "responsibility" does Yao have to his sponsors? Although I disagree entirely with it, I can accept your premise that Yao could jump ship because he doesn't think he can win in Houston, but do you really feel like marketing will be such a primary factor in Yao's decision to move on? Is money and fame that important to Yao? Perhaps that's not what you meant, but it sure seems like it.
I'm glad Yao isn't as rash as some people around here ... I truly believes that he understands that he is a part of this losing as much as anyone else on this team. For the Rox to win consistently he understands that HE is going to have to play better along with other players on this team. I think he understands that just going to another team, especially one like Golden State, is not going to make him a winner. Does Karl Malone leaving the Jazz to get a ring make him a winner? No, it means that he couldn't do it due to his own deficiencies and it is seen by many as sort of "giving in." Yao has more pride than that, not to mention he is a very loyal guy, and I think he is going to want to prove that he can carry this team. The only way the Rox lose him is if they get on his bad side like the Yankees did to Andy Pettitte.
iOrange - And if I'm the Rockets, I demand Nowitski in a trade for Yao. No Nowitski...no Yao...still think the Mavs are guaranteed to win it all? Highly doubtful IMO. Under the current CBA, Yao is a qualifying offer FA in year 5 (if he has not already been extended and maxed like Francis is now). The Rockets will have Yao's Bird Rights and can make a larger offer than almost any other team. The teams that can out bid the Rox for Yao would have so much money tied up in Yao, they will not be able to get any other FA's for lack of additional cap space money. (Think Garnett prior to this year). Yes, Yao can imitate Kandi...57 games and 3 seasons from now. By then, we will have seen a team built to Van Gundy specs (as opposed to Rudy T specs), whether on not the TWolves can get out of the 1st round and if not are pedaling Garnet along with an ancient Sprewell, whether Shaq has retired, whether Kobe has gone to the Big Apple to be the Top Banana, whether Hubie is still in the league at 80+ or has been replaced by Muselman (GSW) or Bzdelik (DEN), who has sustained a career ending injury, whether LeBron is the next MJ, and.... all of the other intangibles which make this entire thread speculative BS at best.
dont get me wrong. I don't think Yao'll choose to leave Houston unless something like the Shaq-Penny or Big Dog-Allen fight happens. Even under that type of situation, i guess Les will trade other 14 plauers only to make Yao happy. I was just trying to argue on some technical issues . you are right, this thread itself doesn't have much value.
Do you really think that Yao will stay in Houston if Les trade away the whole rest roster for 14 CBA players and crown Yao as the king of a losing team? It is about the wining. If Houston can win, Yao will stay. If Houston can't win, he will leave.
lanqiu1, I would appreciate it if you use your "aggressiveness" of starting new threads to cheer for the Rockets. Thank you.
i wouldn't hold my breath on this one. mind you that was in his first ever nba season and he just signed 4+ year contract. what did you expect him to say? on the other hand, this maybe true ...
